Police raids ex-Minister Aroop Biswas' house in Messi event case

A large contingent of police, accompanied by central security personnel, conducted a search operation at the Sahapur Colony apartment linked to Aroop Biswas and Swarup Biswas in New Alipore on Tuesday. According to available information, officials from Kolkata Police carried out the operation at Swarup Biswas's residence in connection with allegations of extortion. The search took place just hours after the Calcutta High Court declined to grant an urgent hearing sought by former West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas in the Messi event controversy.

Earlier in the day, Aroop Biswas faced another legal setback when his lawyers sought an urgent hearing before the Calcutta High Court regarding protection from possible arrest. Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya declined to accord priority to the matter and stated that such cases must proceed through the regular judicial process. The court advised Aroop Biswas to pursue the anticipatory bail route if he apprehended arrest. The matter relates to an FIR lodged on May 17 at Bidhannagar South Police Station by Shatadru Dutta, one of the organizers associated with the proposed Lionel Messi tour.

The complaint alleges offences under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including ticket black-marketing, extortion, criminal intimidation, negligence in security arrangements related to the event, and allegations of cheating and fraud. Police had directed Aroop Biswas to appear before investigators on June 4. His anticipatory bail application was earlier rejected by the Barasat court, following which he approached the High Court. Investigators subsequently issued fresh notices after stating that no medical documents had been submitted to support his claim of illness. According to the information available, Aroop Biswas has not yet appeared before investigators, while the search operation linked to the ongoing investigation was carried out at the New Alipore residence.